iOS 6.0.1 debuts with Wi-Fi connectivity, horizontal line fixes

Update also fixes over-the-air update and passcode problems.

Apple's first update to iOS 6 is making its way through the Internet tubes to an iOS device near you—the company released iOS 6.0.1 on Thursday. It's a seemingly innocuous version number, but the update offers a number of fixes that have been irritating iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users since iOS 6's release in September.

From Apple's release notes:

This update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:

- Fixes a bug that prevents iPhone 5 from installing software updates wirelessly over the air
- Fixes a bug where horizontal lines may be displayed across the keyboard
- Fixes an issue that could cause camera flash to not go off
- Improves reliability of iPhone 5 and iPod touch (5th generation) when connected to encrypted WPA2 Wi-Fi networks
- Resolves an issue that prevents iPhone from using the cellular network in some instances
- Consolidated the Use Cellular Data switch for iTunes Match
- Fixes a Passcode Lock bug which sometimes allowed access to Passbook pass details from lock screen
- Fixes a bug affecting Exchange meetings

Indeed, the horizontal line issue has already affected some of us here at Ars, and numerous iPhone 5 users have reported issues staying connected to certain Wi-Fi networks. The other issues are certainly nothing to laugh at either, though they seem to be slightly less prevalent (at least according to our non-scientific survey of friends, family, and coworkers).

Because some iPhone 5 users might have the first issue—the inability to install over-the-air updates from Apple—those users must first install an updater app on their devices before installing iOS 6.0.1 OTA. But for those of you in front of your computers, you can still get the update through iTunes by clicking the "Update" button on your device's settings screen.

Updating. It asked me to connect to iTunes first. Then offered an Updater app to download??? I clicked it, then it took me right back to the software update menu on the General options, where I could do it OTA.

Updating. It asked me to connect to iTunes first. Then offered an Updater app to download??? I clicked it, then it took me right back to the software update menu on the General options, where I could do it OTA.

Uhhhh...what the deuce?

There's a bug with the iPhone 5 that prevents being able to update iOS over the air. The downloaded app updates the iOS Updater, then relaunches the iOS Updater [a phone restart may be required, but it wasn't in my case]. From there, you should be able to download the update with no further issues.

The updater app is automatically removed once you reboot into iOS 6.0.1, and the app will install even if the App Store is disabled in Restrictions (mine is).

Updating. It asked me to connect to iTunes first. Then offered an Updater app to download??? I clicked it, then it took me right back to the software update menu on the General options, where I could do it OTA.

Uhhhh...what the deuce?

There's a bug with the iPhone 5 that prevents being able to update iOS over the air. The downloaded app updates the iOS Updater, then relaunches the iOS Updater [a phone restart may be required, but it wasn't in my case]. From there, you should be able to download the update with no further issues.

The updater app is automatically removed once you reboot into iOS 6.0.1, and the app will install even if the App Store is disabled in Restrictions (mine is).

The biggest issue in many large enterprises has been IOS 6 exacerbating a bug in Exchange that allows ActiveSync clients to take ownership of meetings they have no privileges for. In many cases, this results in meetings with large attendee lists getting cancelled when people decline the meeting. With that decline, the ownership is changed and Exchange treats the decline as a cancel from the owner of the meeting. Really does a number in a big company.

This release is supposed to address this and will likely be a mandatory update in large companies.

There's a bug with the iPhone 5 that prevents being able to update iOS over the air. The downloaded app updates the iOS Updater, then relaunches the iOS Updater [a phone restart may be required, but it wasn't in my case]. From there, you should be able to download the update with no further issues.

The updater app is automatically removed once you reboot into iOS 6.0.1, and the app will install even if the App Store is disabled in Restrictions (mine is).

Coworkers iphone 4S has had numerous sudden reboot problems ever since he updated to iOS 6. Before it never happened once.

Have the same issue on my iPhone 4. It has happened probably 4 times since updating to iOS 6. Interestingly, it's not a full reboot. It backs out to the boot screen with just the Apple logo on it, but it comes back in maybe 5 seconds, whereas if I manually turn the phone off, then back on, it'll take about a minute to boot.

Why is that Apple releases devices and has to fix issues time and time again... They should really consider getting their homework done before releasing a device!The Maps should have been updated..but again...its not a small job!!..I hope they do it in the next Update... Whenever that comes!!Read somewhere about releasing it after holidays!

First, everyone has QA issues, they just don't get the press that Apple does. At least iOS users have hope of an update. Many Android users are left hanging, unless they have the wherewithal to root their device and install a mod.

Second, they don't need to update the Maps app to make it better, they need to update the underlying data that powers the Maps app. That data is not stored locally, so no updates will be pushed to the users, the maps will get better as Apple updates the data on their servers.

One can't help but hope that the recent changes in executive leadership at Apple will help to Forstall such bugs slipping through in the future.

Is it against the forum rules to say stfu? I think "fail" is accepted. A crappy pun doesn't help this mindless comment. All software has bugs. At least talk about forestalling something specific to this update - horizontal lines, wifi disconnects...

Drop a line to Ars and let them know how you feel. They do listen to public opinion. Usually.

So far they haven't been seeming to. About 1/5 severely down rated comments are actually worthy of being hidden. The rest are just unpopular views which a majority disagree with and are therefore hidden. The editors used a few examples of the 1/5 to justify the system is working, and completely ignored the other 4/5 (not to mention the rate of down voting for disagreeing seems to be accelerating)

The biggest issue in many large enterprises has been IOS 6 exacerbating a bug in Exchange that allows ActiveSync clients to take ownership of meetings they have no privileges for. In many cases, this results in meetings with large attendee lists getting cancelled when people decline the meeting. With that decline, the ownership is changed and Exchange treats the decline as a cancel from the owner of the meeting. Really does a number in a big company.

This release is supposed to address this and will likely be a mandatory update in large companies.

I think 6.0 might have been the most reliable major operating system update I have ever used.

The horizontal keyboard bug (which really isn't that bad, just a white line that appears for a couple of milliseconds once or twice a day) is the only one I've seen.

Jakelshark wrote:

Hope it works and applies to the iPad 2. I've had serious issues in the corner of my house where iOS 5 would work more often.

Remember your iPad and iPhone have different shaped antenna's and therefore will have different characteristics when the signal is bad. You might find in the other direction the iPad performs better than the iPhone... that's just how wifi is.

Your best bet is to buy a wifi repeater station to extend the range of the network (not all wifi hardware has that feature). If one device doesn't work reliably, then I bet the ones that do work are really slow.

Drop a line to Ars and let them know how you feel. They do listen to public opinion. Usually.

So far they haven't been seeming to. About 1/5 severely down rated comments are actually worthy of being hidden. The rest are just unpopular views which a majority disagree with and are therefore hidden. The editors used a few examples of the 1/5 to justify the system is working, and completely ignored the other 4/5 (not to mention the rate of down voting for disagreeing seems to be accelerating)

Downvoted comments, sure. But I haven't seen any *hidden* comments yet that deserve to be visible.

PS: They do listen when you contact them, they just might not agree or do anything about it.

Unfortunately, this update has not fixed my mysterious wifi problem: some apps on my iphone4S+iOS6.0.1 still have slow connection to home wifi, while iphone4/iPad2+iOS5 are just fine. iOS6 works well with wifi at work or when I use my laptop as the hotspot, but it does not like my home router. In addition, the slowness is only visible to a few apps. Speedtest.net reports a similar network speed to iOS5. It may be tempted to blame the router or the apps, but that would not explain why iOS5 has good connection in all these cases.

It's still pretty poor with tube stations. Some still don't show unless I zoom in so far that they would fill the screen. The only reason I can get it to display Chiswick Park is because I already know where it is! It also thinks the local Waitrose is a restaurant...